Financial Center News #130

📣 The World Alliance November 2025 Newsletter is out

One highlight that truly stands out is the in-depth interview with Daniel Mainda, CEO of the NIFC Africa. His perspective is one of the most strategic and forward-looking views we've shared this year.

🌍 Daniel explains how NIFC Africa's recent membership in the World Alliance represents a major milestone for Kenya's ambition to become a globally connected, innovation-driven financial hub. He underlines the importance of global cooperation, knowledge exchange, and partnership with leading IFCs on critical themes such as innovation, sustainability, technology, and talent development.

🤝 He also sheds light on NIFC Africa's growing network of international collaborations, ongoing reforms to strengthen Kenya's investment environment, and the country's historic achievement of securing its first startup-focused tax incentive — a major step for boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in East Africa.

💡 Explore the thought-provoking perspectives from Thomas Krantz on Türkiye's approach to sustainability and green finance.

💡 Read more about the strategic analysis by Joe Moynihan on why reputation is becoming the most valuable currency for financial centers worldwide.

🚀 This month's newsletter also features updates on the World Alliance's engagements across Asia and Europe, including appearances at the Vietnam Future Economy Summit, Warsaw Finance Week, Hong Kong FinTech Week, and a DIFC–Asia House session on next-generation financial cities. These activities demonstrate the growing role of IFCs in shaping the future of global finance.

🌐 Additional highlights from Kigali, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Warsaw, Nairobi, and Stuttgart offer insights into digital identity, sustainable finance, fintech ecosystems, capital markets, and policy innovation.

📩 If you haven't subscribed yet, this edition is an excellent opportunity to stay connected to the ideas and conversations shaping international financial centers.

📲 Subscribe to the newsletter and explore the full November issue: https://lnkd.in/ejVxJjdY

The FSRA's new Public Register is now live - delivering a modern, user-friendly experience with enhanced access to regulatory information. This upgraded platform marks a key milestone in FSRA's digital transformation, offering clearer, more accessible details on entities and individuals regulated by the authority.

Explore the new FSRA Public Register today: https://lnkd.in/dHRKCEU.

For firms wishing to request updates or amendments to their information, the FSRA team is ready to support.

We are pleased to launch our annual AIFC Customer Satisfaction Survey

Your feedback is essential in helping us better understand your experience as an AIFC Participant and continually improve the services we provide.

Your responses will help us: — identify key participant needs; — enhance service quality and efficiency; — develop the AIFC as a comfortable and effective business environment.

⏱The survey takes about 5 minutes 🔒All responses are fully confidential

We invite you to take part and contribute to making the AIFC an even better place to do business. Your voice truly matters.

👉Take the survey: https://lnkd.in/gbw76gD3

The Africa Tour reached its final destination last Friday as the delegation arrived in Accra, marking the close of a journey rich in exchanges and new opportunities.

The delegation first met with the Ambassador of the Moroccan Kingdom in Ghana, to discuss cooperation opportunities and strengthen institutional ties.

They also held meetings with Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to explore investment avenues and with AGI [Association of Ghana Industries] to deepen dialogue on industrial development and partnership prospects.

This final stage concludes a tour that fostered meaningful connections and opened doors to future collaborations, as the delegation now returns to Casablanca with valuable insights and promising prospects.

According to #DIFC's latest report, traditional financial centres retain scale and trust but face challenges like rising cost of living, ageing infrastructure, ageing populations, political uncertainty and regulatory inertia. These challenges are creating opportunities for emerging hubs.

Dubai leads MEASA with a broad and deep financial ecosystem, Milan anchors European asset management, Miami offers a vibrant FinTech ecosystem, Sao Paulo drives Latin America's financial growth, and Shenzhen positions itself as China's tech-finance hub.

As the region's leading financial centre that is home to over 8,000 companies and 48,000 professionals, DIFC is driving Dubai's rise in global rankings, creating a dynamic financial ecosystem that attracts top talent, capital, and institutions from around the world.

Read the full report now: https://lnkd.in/dCfT4Uxp

💼 The 'France – Mauritius Business and Investment Meetings' were held on 20 and 21 November 2025 at the Caudan Arts Centre and the EDB headquarters in Mauritius respectively.

🤝 These France-Mauritius meetings are part of the official visit of the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, to Mauritius. They have made it possible to consolidate and accentuate the strategic importance of bilateral economic relations between our two countries.

🎯 The objectives of these meetings were to define opportunities for partnership and collaboration between our companies, and joint projects around several important topics, including innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, energy transition, water management, infrastructure, blue economy, food sovereignty and regional cooperation.

When money moves faster, risk reduces, and trust grows.

In the long run, this move will help strengthen Nigeria's capital market.

This marks significant progress in advancing Nigeria's economy.

That's a wrap on #FM18! A huge thank you to all delegates, speakers and participants who made the conference such a success. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the 46 sponsors whose support made this event possible. Together, we've explored the future of Malta's financial sector and shared insights that will drive a quality-driven, sustainable, and competitive industry. See you next year!

‏The #FSA participated in the GEMC 2025 meetings in Malta, reaffirming Oman's readiness to implement IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 sustainability standards.

‏The discussions highlighted the latest developments in capital markets, digital transformation, sustainable finance, and international experiences in enhancing financial inclusion through digital identity and eKYC processes.

Block in the Park 2026

After last year's record number of visitors, the technology conference Block im Park 2026 is starting a new round. On 12 May 2026, leading representatives from business, politics and research will once again meet in the heart of Europe to discuss the future of digital technologies.

Participants can expect a varied program with top-class keynotes and panel discussions by national and international experts. The focus is on exclusive insights into opportunities, risks and specific fields of application of new technologies – from blockchain to artificial intelligence and other disruptive developments. The program is complemented by exciting AI startup pitches, where young companies present their innovative ideas, as well as first-class networking opportunities with key players in the industry.

In terms of content, the conference will focus on artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies, FinTech, regulation and digital assets, ClimateTech, IoT and sustainable innovations, as well as the digital transformation in Germany and Europe.

Limited Early Bird tickets are now available via the Eintracht website: https://brnw.ch/21wXPLt

Future Finance Poland, in cooperation with Mastercard – the substantive partner of the Digital Payments Specialization – launches a new initiative within the FFP Digital Payments stream: Digital Payment Security.

Mission: To create a collaborative, sector-wide forum developing practical, systemic solutions that support secure digital transactions — from infrastructure and standards to operational models and user protection.

📅Kick-off workshop: 9 December 2025

We are inviting organizations across the payments value chain: banks, PSPs, fintechs, payment infrastructure providers, technology companies, and regulators. The initiative is designed as a working space for institutions that want to actively shape the future of secure digital payments in Poland.

Participation requires prior registration.

To join the initiative, please confirm your participation by contacting: kmlutan@futurefinancepoland.com

What does the future of finance look like? Watch Dr Rocky Tung, #FSDC Director and Head of Policy Research, highlights the transformative opportunities awaiting young talent in finance and AI at #FSDCTalentDay2025. You'll gain valuable insights and knowledge from industry leaders to help you navigate and thrive in an AI-driven financial services industry.

𝗙𝗦𝗗𝗖 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 – 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 Be part of the conversation with industry leaders and take the next step in your career journey! 👉 Register Here (FREE): https://lnkd.in/gvfDa_gE 📅 More event details here: https://lnkd.in/gvGPfzNA

Energy. Motion. Vision. This is the rhythm of Istanbul Financial Center. Where every step, every light, every line moves forward with purpose.

Start your journey today: https://lnkd.in/dxA9i6YC

🏆 Jersey Named Best IFC in MENA for the 8th Time! 🏆

We are proud to announce that Jersey has been named 'Best International Finance Centre (IFC)' in the MENA region at the annual WealthBriefing MENA Awards 2025. This is the eighth time Jersey has received this prestigious recognition.

The award was accepted by Faizal Bhana, Director – Middle East, Africa and India, at the ceremony in Dubai.

This continued success validates the commitment of Jersey's finance industry to providing the stability, robust regulatory standards and expertise required by our clients and partners across the MENA region.

Following significant engagement, including recent conferences and events in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Jersey Finance reaffirms its dedication to building stronger partnerships and supporting growth within the dynamic Gulf financial community.

Discover more: https://jsy.fi/3LQuncS

Today, on the sidelines of #NorrskenAfricaWeek in Kigali, KIFC took part in a high-level session on "Scaling Rwanda as a Flagship Domiciliation Hub for Africa's Investment Vehicles.''

This session drew on the Mastercard Foundation–funded Study on the Domiciliation of Funds and Investment Vehicles in Africa, which recognises Rwanda as a leading and mature domiciliation hub. It convened fund managers, regulators, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers to translate the study's recommendations into practical steps that strengthen Rwanda's competitiveness as a fund domicile.

Organised in partnership with LuxDev, Mastercard Foundation, and MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), this session underscored the importance of coordinated action to strengthen Rwanda's role as a trusted and competitive jurisdiction for Africa-focused investment vehicles.

Great to join Natasha Deloge and Nasir Zubairi for a panel at the Luxembourg Blockchain Week #LBW25 this morning to discuss Luxembourg's role as a European hub for digital assets. Luxembourg's considered approach to providing legal certainty for DLT-based securities combined with its international financial centre and Fintech ecosystem, including state-of-the-art legal services, have made the country the go-to jurisdiction for moving from experimentation into production. With #MICA in force, Luxembourg is also fast becoming the EU hub for serious crypto firms, thanks to the supervisory rigour and technical expertise of the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

Yesterday, the NIFC had the privilege of hosting the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), led by Registrar/CEO Dr. Henry Murigi, PhD and his leadership team. The NIFC team, led by CEO, Mr. Daniel Mainda, and CS. Jennifer Gitiri, CAMS, HSC engaged in productive discussions aimed at deepening this foundational relationship mandated by our establishing Act.

Robust and credible dispute resolution mechanisms are fundamental to the success of any International Financial Centre, providing the confidence and legal certainty that investors, financial institutions and businesses require when conducting cross-border transactions and operations.

By working closely with the NCIA, we are reinforcing the legal infrastructure that underpins investor confidence and operational excellence within our financial centre, creating a conducive environment for dispute resolution that serves NIFC firms and stakeholders effectively.

We look forward to our continued partnership with NCIA in positioning Nairobi as a globally competitive financial hub, supported by NCIA's commitment to providing secure, efficient and credible dispute resolution services.

Together, we are building a foundation of trust and excellence for international finance in Africa.

We're proud to announce that we've signed an MoU with Visit Qatar, welcoming them as a national partner of the QFC Digital Assets Lab. 🤝

Through this collaboration, Visit Qatar will explore blockchain-powered visitor experiences, including token-based rewards, cultural heritage digital collectibles, tokenised tourism packages, and smart-contract-enabled services.

As part of the initiative, we have licensed eXplorins as a Token Service Provider (TSP) under the QFC Digital Assets Framework to support the country's first tokenised rewards pilot.

This partnership reinforces Qatar's position at the forefront of tourism innovation and strengthens national efforts to advance digital transformation across sectors.

Great roundtable today with Gareth Davies CB, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Business and Trade, discussing important topics including partnering for growth, sector priorities, regulatory burdens and championing international trade and investment.

Thank you to George Marcotte and Accenture for hosting us.

Highlights from the Kenya High-Level Business Forum hosted by the Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) during the official visit of the Honourable Dato' Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to Kenya.....

I was honoured to join the event and captured key moments including with Sally Mahihu (Chairperson, Kenya Investment Authority (InvestKenya) ) and John Mwendwa, OGW (CEO, Kenya Investment Authority (InvestKenya) ) - two dynamic leaders helping to steer Kenya's investment trajectory.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia delivered powerful insights on Kenya's evolving investment landscape and reiterated the country's strong commitment to deepening Malaysia-Kenya economic ties. The forum sparked rich, forward-looking conversations around new pathways for collaboration, high-impact investments and long-term strategic partnerships.

At TRIFIC SEZ, we remain fully committed to playing a leading role in this agenda. Our mandate is clear - to advance Kenya's position as a premier destination for business-services investment, digital innovation and global scale-up. We are actively positioning TRIFIC SEZ as Kenya's go-to hub for service-exports, shared-services, fintech and knowledge-intensive operations across Africa.